Vibratory games



June 25, 1968 s. FRIEDMAN 3,389,912

VIBRATORY GAMES Filed March 25, 1966 l4? ,6 I5? I 1 A? /6 b L I /8@ 3 m I 1, we a FIG. .3.

INVENTOR.

SOL FRIEDMAN A T TORNE Y United States Patent 3,389,912 VIBRATORY GAMES Sol Friedman, Munsey, N.Y., assiguor to Miner Industries, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 536,696 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-94) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A game having a playing surface defined by a rectangular, stifily resilient sheet member supported at its perimeter and over which game pieces move in response to vibration of the sheet member, is provided with a rotatable shaft extending below the sheet member at right angles to the long sides of its rectangular perimeter at a location approximately midway between the perimeters short sides and which is manually rotatable by handles on end portions of the shaft projecting beyond such long sides, and wheels secured on the shaft to underlie the sheet member adjacent the opposite long sides and having toothed peripheries contacted by projections, for example, formed by pressed dimples, directed downwardly from the sheet. member, whereby to introduce vibrations into the sheet member adjacent the mid-points of its long sides upon rotation of the shaft.

This invention relates generally to games in which game pieces are made to move over a playing surface in response to vibration of such surface, and is particularly directed to improvements in the means for effecting the vibration of the playing surface.

Games have been provided in which a relatively stiff, resilient sheet member supported at its perimeter and defining a playing surface is vibrated, generally perpendicular to such surface, so as to effect movement over the playing surface of game pieces having bases with resilient filaments depending therefrom and being inclined from perpendiculars to the playing surface. In existing games of the described character, the vibration of the playing surface is effected by electrically energized means, for example, by an electromagnetic vibrator. Such electrically energized means for effecting the desired vibrations of the playing surface is relatively costly and also disadvantageous in that it limits the use of the game to a location near electrical outlets supplying the usual lZO-volt household alternating current, or requires the use of relatively costly and heavy batteries. Further, the electrically energized means can effect vibration of the playing surface only at a predetermined frequency so that the speed of movement of the game pieces cannot be controlled. It is also found that sensitive control of the starting and stopping of the vibration by the electrically energized means cannot be achieved through manipulation of the usual switch interposed in the current supply circuit. Thus, for example, where the game is intended to simulate the playing of football with the game pieces representing the players of opposing teams, the inability to control the speed of movement of the game pieces or to stop such movement at exactly the desired moment detracts from the enjoyment of the game and minimizes the extent to which the game is a test of skill.

Accordingly, it is an obeject of this invention to provide games of the described character in which relatively inexpensive, manually driven means are provided for effecting the vibration of the playing surface so that the game can be played outdoors or at any other location re mote from a current source and without requiring the use of batteries.

Another object is to provide games of the described character in which the frequency of the vibrations, and

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hence the speed of movement of the game pieces, can be varied as desired and the vibrations can be halted to stop such movement at exactly the desired moment.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a game having a relatively stiff, resilient sheet member, for example, of metal, supported at its perimeter and defining the playing surface, and a plurality of game pieces movable over the playing surface in response to vibration of the sheet member; is provided with a shaft mounted rotatably below the resilient sheet member and having end portions projecting beyond the perimeter of the sheet member and carrying handles by which the shaft can be manually rotated, and at least one wheel secured on the shaft and having a toothed periphery contacted by a projection directed downwardly from the resilient sheet member so that rotation of the shaft causes vibration of the Sheet member by reason of the contact of the projection with the toothed periphery of the wheel.

In a preferred embodiment, the projection directed downwardly from the sheet member is defined simply by a dimple pressed into said sheet member. Further, the manually rotatable shaft preferably has two wheels with toothed peripheries secured thereon adjacent opposed sides of the playing surface and contacted by correspondingly located dimples pressed downwardly into the resilient sheet member so that vibrations are introduced into the latter at a plurality of locations.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a typical game piece with its base shown broken away and in section.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that a game 10 embodying this invention includes a playing surface 11, which may be printed or otherwise marked to represent a football gridiron, as shown, and a number of game pieces 12 which, in the illustrated embodiment, represent the players of opposing football teams. The playing surface 11 is shown defined by a sheet metal member 13 having a rectangular perimeter at which member 13 is supported by a frame 14 pressed or stamped integrally therewith. Thus, sheet metal member 13 is elevated with respect to a supporting surface on which frame 14 may rest.

As shown on FIG. 4, each game piece 12 may be molded or otherwise formed of plastic and, as is known, may be provided with a base 12a having resilient filaments or slender prongs 12b depending from the base to engage the playing surface 11 at their lower ends. The filaments 12b are all inclined, in the same direction, with respect to perpendiculars to the playing surface engaged thereby so that, upon vibration of member 13 defining playing surface 11, game pieces 12 are moved over that surface.

In accordance with this invention, the desired vibrations of sheet member 13 for effecting movement of game 3 (FIG. 2) carrying handles 17a and 17b by which shaft 15 can be conveniently rotated from either side of playing surface 11.

At least one wheel 18a having a toothed periphery, for example, in the form of a gear or ratchet wheel, is secured on shaft 15 for rotation therewith, and the toothed periphery of wheel 18a is contacted by a projection 19a directed downwardly from member 13 (FIG. 2). In the preferred embodiment shown, shaft 15 has a second wheel 18b with a toothed periphery secured thereon and contacted by a projection directed downwardly from member 13. Thus, upon rotation of shaft 15, the engagement of projections 19a and 1911 with the toothed peripheries of wheels 18a and 18b causes vibrations, as represented by the arrows 20 on FIG. 3, to be introduced into member 13 at the locations of both projections 19a and 19b.

Preferably, as shown, the projections 19a and 1% are formed by dimples pressed downwardly into the sheet metal member 13, and such dimples and the correspond ing wheels 18a and 1811 are conveniently located adjacent the mid-points of the long sides of the playing surface 11 so as to be outside the football gridiron or the like printed thereon. Thus, the depressions of the dimples forming projections 19a and 1% will not interfere with the movement of the game pieces 12 over the playing surface within the gridiron or the like.

It will be apparent that the speed at which shaft 15 is manually rotated will determine the speed of movement of game pieces 12 by the resulting vibrations. Further, since shaft 15 is manually rotated, such rotation can 'be halted at will to accurately terminate the movement of the game pieces. The fact that shaft 15 is manually rotated, and thus can be driven by a relatively large force, makes it possible to provide vibrations of relatively large amplitude determined merely by the configuration of the teeth on wheels 18a and 18b, as compared with the amplitudes possible with existing electro-rnagnetic vibrators, thereby to make more reliable the movement of the game pieces by the vibrations.

It is apparent that the manual rotation of shaft 15 makes the game 10 independent of any source of electric current, and that the described arrangement for effecting the necessary vibrations of playing surface 11 is relatively inexpensive and trouble-free.

Further, it is apparent that the playing surface 11 and game pieces 12 may be adapted to simulate the playing of games other than football, as shown, and that the invention may be applied to any other toy in which pieces are similarly moved in response to vibration of a playing surface.

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Although an illustrative embodiment has been described in detail herein with reference to the drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art Without departing from the scope or spirit of th invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game having a relatively stifl, resilient sheet member defining a playing surface and having a rectangula-r perimeter at which said sheet member is supported, and a plurality of game pieces movable over said playing surface in response to vibration of said sheet member; the combination of a shaft mounted rotatably below said sheet member and extending at right angles to the relatively long sides of said rectangular perimeter at a location approximately midway between the relatively short sides of said rectangular perimeter, said shaft having end portions projecting beyond said perimeter and provided with handles by which said shaft can be manually rotated, two wheels having toothed peripheries secured on said shaft at respective locations underlying said sheet member adjacent the opposite relatively long sides of said perimeter, and projections directed downwardly from said sheet member into contact with said toothed peripheries of the two wheels so that, upon rotation of said shaft, the contact of said projections with said toothed peripheries causes vibrations to be introduced into said sheet member adjacent the mid-points of said relatively long sides for moving game pieces over the playing surface.

2. A game according to claim 1, wherein said sheet member is formed of metal and has dimples pressed downwardly therein to define said projections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 539,807 5/1895 Goodwin 273-86.5 X 1,836,115 12/ 1931 Gueydan 273-865 2,167,985 8/1939 Levay 273-86.5 2,272,512 12/ 1956 Modica 273-94 X FOREIGN PATENTS 302,220 8/ 1929 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Playthings, vol. 59, No. 6, June 1961, page 40.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner. 

